The Biggest Money Mistakes You Can Make

Are you a financial mess?

…Then Save - Now use the money you were paying on the debt to build up your emergency savings account. You should have at least three months of living expenses set aside. Scheduling automatic transfers will make putting money to the side painless and hopefully keep you from falling back into the debt pit in the future.   (Photo: LWA/Stephen Welstead/Blend Images/Corbis)

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Be More Money Savvy - Even a bad economy won’t make some of us get our money act together. But the good news is that we can change our bad habits. Keep reading to learn about the biggest financial faux pas we make and how to fix them. By Kellee Terrell(Photo: LWA/Stephen Welstead/Blend Images/Corbis)

Photo By Photo: LWA/Stephen Welstead/Blend Images/Corbis

Indulging in Retail Therapy - Having a bad day should not give you permission to go buck wild at the mall. Are you buying because you need it, or are you trying to keep up with the Joneses? Think hard before you swipe.  (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

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Indulging in Retail Therapy - Having a bad day should not give you permission to go buck wild at the mall. Are you buying because you need it, or are you trying to keep up with the Joneses? Think hard before you swipe. (Photo: Randy Faris/Corbis)

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Saving Folks  - Yes, our loved ones will fall on hard times, but that doesn’t mean it’s always your responsibility to bail them out. It’s OK to be selfish when it comes to your money. If you are going to help, never lend what you cannot afford and set boundaries on when you must be paid back. (Photo: JGI/GettyImages)

Photo By Photo: JGI/GettyImages

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Not Negotiating Your Salary  - Women already get paid less for doing the same job as men, with Black women getting paid even less than white women. So when you are starting a new job or getting a promotion, it’s really important for you to negotiate your salary and ask for more. Ask for what you are worth!  (Photo: Klaus Vedfelt/GettyImages)

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Leaving the Finances to Your Man - While it seems so 1950s, there are a lot of women who would rather not be involved with the money. You just cannot afford to do that. Yes, he might be better with numbers, but sit down with him and be part of the discussion. You should know where your money is being spent and saved. (Photo: Blend Images/Hill Street Studios/Getty Images)

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What Future? What Retirement? - When you are young, it’s hard to think about the future. But one day you will be a heck of lot older, wishing you had. So, start thinking about retirement. If your job offers a 401K plan, invest in it! Because social security may not be around when we turn 65. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Being a Plastic Princess - Having a credit card can be a great thing — it can help you out of binds, help build credit, etc. But it can be a nightmare if you continue to live off of them, racking up a gang of debt that you may not be able to pay off. Don’t use credit to pay for your day-to-day expenses. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Have No Emergency Fund - It’s hard to save when you are broke or feel broke. But if you cut back and budget, you might be able to save as little as $25 dollars a month. Over time, that can help build an emergency fund. These funds are really important, because you never know when you’ll find yourself in a pickle.  (Photo: Stockbyte/Getty Images)

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Refuse to Sacrifice - Yes, you are fabulous, but girl, your actual salary isn’t. You cannot live beyond your means thinking you are entitled to everything you want. Being money savvy means making sacrifices, such as not having designer clothes or eating out all the time. Trust, it’s worth it.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

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Refuse to Sacrifice - Yes, you are fabulous, but girl, your actual salary isn’t. You cannot live beyond your means thinking you are entitled to everything you want. Being money savvy means making sacrifices, such as not having designer clothes or eating out all the time. Trust, it’s worth it.  (Photo: 68/Ocean/Corbis)

Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate - Lowering your interest rate on your credit cards can be as easy as a nice demeanor and a phone call. If you have a $5,000 balance, even a 3 percent rate reduction saves you $150 a year. (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)

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Ignoring Your Debt - Don’t charge what you cannot afford, because ignoring your credit cards or student loans can really jack up your credit. And while it may not seem like it matters, it does. Bad credit can stop you from getting a job, an apartment, owning a home, etc. (Photo: Fuse/Getty Images)